Sitting comfortably on white cushioned benches, I lean back and try to absorb all the positive energy in Midtown Plaza’s newest restaurant. Kiri, a Korean and Japanese rice bar, strives to accomplish a minimalist theme, and I confirm that they have achieved it.
As soon as I walk through the doors of the restaurant, I immediately relax. The white walls and spacious real estate of chairs and tables give off a good vibe.
When I arrive, Joan Lee, one of the servers at Kiri, welcomes me with a friendly smile. She earnestly suggests refilling my water bottle while I wait for my friend to accompany me.
While sitting down, I note the contemporary and simple design: along the walls are frames containing imitation grass. Each one appears to be a window to a plush green lawn. The halogen art and the Korean pop music in the background put me in a trance when suddenly a Maroon 5 song jolts me back to America.
My friend finally arrives, and we are so hungry after school that we decide to eat immediately. This is my third time coming to Kiri, so I already know the highlight of the menu, and suggest that we both order the bibimbap—a Korean meal that literally means “mixed rice.” The best part about this dish is that you choose which ingredients you want to go in a bowl.
My absolute favorite choices are shrimp and brown rice with mushrooms, carrots, onions, cucumbers, bell peppers, broccoli and Korean hot pepper sauce. Does that seem like a lot? Well, the great thing about the bibimbap is that you can pick as many veggies as you want, as Kiri offers an extensive list of fresh veggies. Whatever you do, however, do not forget to ask for your bibimbap to be served in a dolsot, which is a hot stone bowl.
After checking off our little menu slips to indicate which ingredients we want, our server promptly brings us a hot, complimentary bowl of miso soup, a Korean specialty with scallions, tofu and seaweed. By the time we were sipping the last of the miso soup, the waitress brings out our bibimbap, and an instant smile forms on my face after the first bite. The combination of ingredients and spice kick my taste buds into overdrive. The taste is just too good to be true. My friend and I happily eat the delicious bibimbap while listening to smooth Korean music, talking about trivial teenage girl topics and occasionally getting checked on by a waitress.
The service at Kiri is impeccable. Everyone is so warm and friendly. Lee answers any and all questions that I have had about Kiri. She even tells me that “Kiri” means “together” in Korean—something I was dying to know. Kiri’s employees do not judge you at all if you have questions about the menu or if you ask about a certain dish.
Enjoying the large bowl of bibimbap with my friend, I imagine that this calming restaurant will last for a long time. It is the perfect place for me to come after a long day of school, before sporting events at Grady or simply to meet up with my friends. It only takes a few minutes for me to get here if I am walking and an even shorter time if I am on my moped. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone—Grady students, faculty and staff, parents, local neighbors, everyone. I am definitely looking forward to my next dining experience at Kiri.
